News: Jet makes Lite of Air Sahara

(IBN 17/04/2007) Mumbai - Goodbye Air Sahara, welcome JetLite, the new name of the latest acquisition by Jet Airways.

The new airline will operate as a separate entity and would be priced lower than a full service airline to take on low cost carriers in the country. By this model, Jet Airways hopes to bring back air travellers who want facilities of a full service carrier but at a lower price.

Says Jet Airways Chairman, Naresh Goyal, "We will come out with the pricing, but our average yield will be higher than what the so called low cost airlines are making."

Jet Airways has also dismissed reports that they have paid a high cost for acquiring Air Sahara. Jet say that the benefit of the acquisition would be seen in the long term with huge savings in manpower, infrastructure and engineering costs.

There are 600 engineering people so the unit per cost will go down. Then we don't have to run separate offices. The network will be merged, which will be very good for customers," adds Naresh Goyal.

Jet has also undertaken a multi-million dollar re-branding exercise which would involve a change in logo and a complete new look of its crew.

This new corporate identity has been adopted keeping in mind its new global aspirations of flying more international routes in future.